VILLA manager Martin O'Neill is optimistic Stiliyan Petrov can have as big an impact on the Barclaycard Premiership as Frank Lampard.

O'Neill believes Lampard is the "yardstick" for other midfielders to try and aspire to given his form for Chelsea.

Petrov rejoined O'Neill at Villa Park in August after a #6.5million move from Celtic and has already played a big part in Villa's unbeaten start to the campaign.

O'Neill said: "Can Petrov have as big an impact as Lampard? You are hoping that is right. That is why Petrov has come down here.

"He wants to play Premier League football and I think he is capable of making a big impact in this division.

"I thought he did very well at the weekend against Chelsea, defensively and also breaking forward up the pitch, and the goals will come as well.

"When he gets to know the players and the surroundings a bit better, he will be flying. Lampard and people like that are the yardstick. They have proved it."

Meanwhile, O'Neill is determined to keep matters in perspective despite Villa being in the top six and still to taste defeat after seven games.

He said: "I can't do anything about the expectations but eventually we will find our level. We know that ourselves. We are going to get beaten, make no mistake.

"There are a couple of hammerings around the corner. We have take it and deal with it when it comes. We are enjoying it at the moment and the players have been excellent.

"They should take an enormous amount of credit because they've had to adjust to a new manager coming in, a different set-up, a different regime, a different tactical approach and they've adapted very well."